Ohio Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher has a commanding 41 - 24 percent lead over Secretary of State Jennifer
Brunner in the race for the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination, up from 33 - 26 percent March 30,
according to a Quinnipiac University poll of likely primary voters released today.

Still, 34 percent of likely Democratic primary voters remain undecided and 51 percent of
those who name a candidate say they might change their mind.

Fisher's margin over Ms. Brunner on a series of other questions about how voters view the
two candidates confirms the movement in Fisher's direction since the last survey by the
independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.

The winner of the May 4 Democratic primary will face Rob Portman, who is unopposed for
the Republican nomination, in the November election.

"Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher has moved into the driver's seat for the Democratic U.S. Senate
nomination. For the last year he had held a small lead over Ms. Brunner, but as the primary
approaches he has more than doubled his margin. Fisher clearly has momentum on his side," said
Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Although
anything can happen in politics, at this point the race appears to be his to lose.

"The obvious reason for Fisher opening up the race is that in the last weeks he has
overwhelmed Ms. Brunner in television and radio advertising. Money may not buy happiness, but
it sure can win elections. Of course, a third of likely voters say they remain undecided, but Ms.
Brunner would have to win the vast, vast majority of them."

Fisher's greatest advantage over Brunner may be he is considered more electable. Primary
voters say 46 - 16 that he is more likely to win the November election, up from 37 - 18 percent in
March.

Fisher does better among likely women voters, 43 - 24 percent, than he does among men,
38 - 24 percent.

A fixture in statewide Ohio politics for almost two decades, Fisher is viewed favorably by
41 percent of likely voters, unfavorably by 7 percent. By comparison, Brunner has a 26 - 7 percent
favorability, with 65 percent who don't know enough about her to form an opinion.

Likely voters say Fisher more shares their values than Ms. Brunner 31 - 19 percent, up from
23 - 20 percent in March. By 26 - 19 percent they think he rather than she is more likely to do in
office what they said in the campaign, up from 23 - 19 percent in March.

Fisher also is seen as more consistently liberal, 25 - 20 percent, compared to 21 - 15
percent in March.

"Fisher already had better name recognition and his financial advantage allowed him to
build on that edge. Name recognition and money are often difficult to overcome and that is the
challenge facing Ms. Brunner in the final days of the campaign," said Brown.

From April 22 - 26, Quinnipiac University surveyed 987 Ohio likely Democratic primary
voters, with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points. The sample was drawn from registered
voter lists based on people who have voted in recent elections.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Ohio and the
nation as a public service and for research.
For more data or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or
follow us on Twitter.

1. If the Democratic primary for United States Senator were being held today,
would you vote for Lee Fisher or Jennifer Brunner? (If undecided q1) As of
today, would you say that you lean a little more toward Fisher or Brunner? (This
table includes "Leaners".)

TREND: If the 2010 Democratic primary for United States Senator were being held
today and the candidates were Lee Fisher and Jennifer Brunner, for whom would
you vote? (If undecided q1) As of today, do you lean more toward Fisher or
Brunner? (This table includes Leaners".)